Senior Director of School Success

Erin Hennigan

Bio

Erin Hennigan

Erin came from LePort Schools in San Francisco as Head of School before joining Higher Ground Education as Director of School Success in 2018. He has experience in Montessori training, teacher development as well as teaching and received his ECE Montessori certification from St. Mary’s College of California. He has his bachelors in philosophy and his masters in education.

My Story

Learn more about Erin.

What inspires you about education?

As a teacher for seven years, I found my inspiration in the visible moments of learning and development of my young students: The moment a child realizes she can read a word in the environment by herself, the discovery that multiplication is really just a faster way of doing addition, the emergence of awareness of a new physical ability, etc.

How did you discover Montessori?

I'm one of those fortunate folks who got to attend a Montessori school for many years as a child. As an adult, I had long thought about teaching but defaulted to an image of traditional teaching, which never clicked, so I didn't pursue it.

In my mid-twenties, working a soul-crushing job, I saw an ad in the local paper for the Montessori teacher training program at a local university. It piqued my interest, and I was primed for a change. I attended a one-hour information session, and by the end of that hour, having never worked with children in any capacity, I decided to invest in getting trained. I've been a Montessorian every since!

How does Montessori philosophy inspire your daily life?

It inspires me to live my life in the way we support our Montessori students in doing: with autonomy, intention, curiosity, and fun.

What have you learned from your time working at Higher Ground thus far?

That it actually IS possible to find a workplace where folks are deeply mission driven, where healthy debate is alive and well, and where I truly like and respect the people I work with.

What do you enjoy most about working with your teammates?

The honest, genuine belief in open feedback, collaboration, and friendliness with mistakes.

What are your passions, interests, and hobbies?

I love to travel with my wife, especially to tropical locations. I love to run with my running partner (my Goldendoodle, Montana). I'm an avid fly fisherman (which also enables travel to awesome locations), and even hand tie many of my own flies.